NOAO Education and Public Outreach

Dr. Stephen Pompea with the Galileoscope in Paris during the IYA2009 opening ceremonies.

Dr. Steve’s Ten Favorite Ways to Teach about Astronomy

Dr. Stephen Pompea is the Manger of Science Education at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and editor of Great Ideas for Teaching Astronomy, 3rd edition, and half a dozen other books on teaching about astronomy. From his 40 years of teaching astronomy at all grade levels, here are some of his favorite ways to help kids learn about astronomy.

1. It’s about the pretty pictures!

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory has an image gallery of over 1000 images

Teach about what is out there, how big it is, and how it has changed using lovely pictures from the “From Earth to the Universe” Project. Download classroom-ready images with English or Spanish captions

2. Make your own observations of the Moon and planets.

Science is a contact sport. Build your own telescope using the Galileoscope telescope kit, developed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and its collaborators: leading optics experts and science educators.

4. Teach about light pollution and dark skies.

Not only do outdoor lights aimed up instead of down rob us of views of our galaxy of stars, the “Milky Way”, but they waste a lot of energy lighting up the bottom of birds and clouds. Through the Dark Skies Rangers Program, students learn about the importance of dark skies and experience activities that illustrate proper lighting, light pollution’s effects on wildlife and how to measure the darkness of your skies. These activities, developed at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), are for a wide age-range of students to learn about the effects of light pollution. NOAO is a leader in dark skies education and hosts the International Year of Astronomy’s Dark Skies Cornerstone Project. (See www.darkskiesawareness.org for more information.)

Students can particpate in Globe at Night, a citizen-science campaign to rate the brightness of your night sky.

7. Find Hands-On Activities by holding hands with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). They have the best astronomy teaching resources for all grade levels in the world. I count my membership as one of the best investments I have ever made.